Zhao Changhe looked at Master Dai meaningfully for a while, not knowing if this person was calling him out of pure stupidity or if there was another meaning behind it. He hadn't really thought about where to stay, any inn would do, and no one would know he had entered the city, so what difference did it make?

But now that Master Dai had called him out so publicly, staying at an inn didn't seem like a good idea.

However, if he stayed at Master Dai's house, then everything he did would be under Master Dai's watchful eye.

He definitely couldn't stay at Tang Wanzhuang's house, that would send the wrong message, and Tang Wanzhuang probably wouldn't be able to handle it and would most likely kick him out...

After some thought, Zhao Changhe smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Dai, I have a place to stay."

Master Dai asked in surprise, "Does Brother Zhao have acquaintances in the capital? Oh, could it be the Cui family? I feel like staying there wouldn't be suitable for you, and you might even be driven out."

"..." It seemed that both the Tang and Cui families were likely to drive him out, and Zhao Changhe realized that he wasn't very welcome.

But he did have a place to go. "Since Brother Dai is familiar with the capital, do you know the way to the Marquis Jingyuan's mansion?"

Master Dai was stunned. "Does Brother Zhao have a connection with Marquis Jingyuan?"

"No, but I have military information." Zhao Changhe ignored him and asked the city gate guard, "I have military information, can someone take me to the Marquis's mansion?"

At this time, there was no major military information, but the city gate guard immediately arranged for someone to take Zhao Changhe directly to the Marquis Jingyuan's mansion.

Master Dai stood still, and after a while, he said to his follower, "This Zhao Changhe, I was being kind to him, why does he avoid me like a snake? I was planning to invite him to the Yihonglou tonight..."

The follower sighed and said nothing.

When is it that you think everyone is just like you rich young masters, only thinking about having fun... If you publicly announce Zhao Changhe's arrival in the city, it's good enough that he doesn't suspect you of having ulterior motives.

As the chaotic world approaches, I don't know if these young masters will be able to adapt. They say they are hidden dragons, but how many of them can truly rise from the abyss?

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe arrived at the Marquis Jingyuan's mansion and called out openly, "Zhao Changhe has important military matters to report, who is in charge at the Marquis Jingyuan's mansion?"

The gate opened with a creak, and a burly man hurriedly came out to greet him. "I am Huangfu Shaozong. Military matters are more important than the heavens. Please come in, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Changhe asked in surprise, "Aren't you afraid that I might be here to harm you, and yet you welcome me like this?"

Huangfu Shaozong laughed heartily. "If Brother Zhao wanted to harm me, it might not necessarily succeed."

Huangfu Shaozong, ranked eleventh on the list of hidden dragons. Despite his burly appearance, he was the same age as Zhao Changhe, twenty years old.

The Langya Swordsmanship Tournament was said to have invited all the hidden dragons, but it was far from the truth. Many people had "matters" and didn't come, just like Huangfu Shaozong.

The hidden dragon list had a magical quality, and those on the list seemed to have a natural connection. They would call each other brothers even before meeting, or you could say that being on the list made them naturally look up to each other.

As Zhao Changhe followed Huangfu Shaozong inside, he casually asked, "Huangfu, why didn't you go with your father on the expedition? Isn't it for experience?"

"Because I am the only one in the Huangfu family. In a family with only one heir, they only conscript the father and not the son..."

"Uh..." Zhao Changhe thought to himself that the families he had seen were all so prosperous, it was rare to see such a single heir in a prominent family.

Huangfu Shaozong continued, "I originally had three brothers... They all died on the battlefield in recent years, leaving only me and my sister."

Zhao Changhe was taken aback and respectfully saluted, saying, "I have been presumptuous."

"It's nothing." As they spoke, the two of them arrived in the living room, and Huangfu Shaozong waved for someone to bring tea, then asked directly, "What is the military situation?"

"Is Hulei the leader of a certain tribe on the grasslands?"

"Yes, the War Lion tribe. They have a part to play in the battle of Yanmen Pass, and Hulei's disciple, Batu, leads ten thousand men under the Great Khan's command."

"Hulei has suffered a serious injury... If we kill him, will this tribe be in chaos? Or will it be swallowed up by the Great Khan without a ripple?"

"Chaos is certain... If we can kill him, regardless of whether there is chaos or not, it will eliminate a major threat."

"Hmm."

Huangfu Shaozong said, "The Demon Suppression Bureau sent a message about twenty days ago that Hulei was pierced through the shoulder blade by Han Wubing in Jianhu City, and with the injuries he had sustained from Master Guichen, he is at his weakest now. We also sent people to search for him, but there has been no news so far. Could it be that Young Master Zhao has some clues?"

Zhao Changhe rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "It seems that Wei Zicai doesn't dare to conceal it too much... Or is this his credit?"

Huangfu Shaozong: "..."

Zhao Changhe said, "I do have some clues. At this time, Hulei is about to arrive at Beimang, where I stayed before. It will be difficult to find him once he goes further north into the mountains."

Huangfu Shaozong was surprised. "Is the information accurate?"

"I dare not say it's one hundred percent accurate, but I am eighty to ninety percent sure."

Zhao Changhe did indeed know Hulei's whereabouts.

Because along the way, he and Miss Yihuo Snake had passed by many branch altars of the Four Elephant Sect, and he had seen Miss Yihuo Snake give orders to the sect members to search extensively for Hulei's whereabouts.

Hulei had tried to kill Yihuo Snake, and she held a grudge against him.

The Four Elephant Sect had a huge underground influence in the north, and the orders of the twenty-eight constellations were also important. The vast underground machinery was in full operation, and it wasn't too difficult to find a heavily injured man with a clear description. His whereabouts had been relayed to Yihuo Snake yesterday evening.Saying it's eighty or ninety percent is just because he dares not claim it's full, but in reality, Zhao Changhe feels it's a hundred percent certainty. He also harbors an inexplicable trust in the Four Elephant Sect, like it's his mother's home.

It seemed that the Winged Fire Serpent hesitated for a moment between pursuing Helai and returning to the capital, ultimately choosing to return first. After all, staying in the capital for a day or two to handle some affairs, there was still time to pursue the kill. If she went after the kill first, she would be away from the capital for too long, which would be highly improper.

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It appears that the Winged Fire Serpent is indeed very eager to return to the capital, so much so that she's even neglecting the clues of her enemy... I really wonder what her true identity is.

Seeing Zhao Changhe speak with such certainty, Huangfu Shaozong didn't waste words and immediately ordered his men: "Quickly inform Tang chancellor, have the Demon Suppression Division cooperate with our people to search the vicinity of Beimang, we must not let Helai live to return to the grasslands!"

Before he could finish speaking, a guard hurriedly reported from outside: "Yang Yaowu from the Demon Suppression Division is here to visit, saying that Tang chancellor requests Zhao Changhe for questioning."

Zhao Changhe took a sip of tea and said leisurely: "She wants me to go to her? If she has something to say, let her come and talk in person."

Huangfu Shaozong's mouth twitched.

But then Zhao Changhe looked at him expectantly: "Brother Huangfu..."

"Hmm?"

"Considering my role in military intelligence, may I stay at your place during my visit to the capital?"

Huangfu Shaozong didn't really want to host Zhao Changhe.

The sword on Zhao Changhe's back might not be recognized by others, but the Huangfu family was all too familiar with it. As a typical military family, they wanted nothing to do with such matters, especially now that the family line depended solely on him...

But since Zhao Changhe had made such a request openly, it seemed somewhat impolite to refuse. Huangfu Shaozong's thoughts raced, trying to find an excuse to decline, when another urgent announcement came from outside: "The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

Zhao Changhe was stunned.

Huangfu Shaozong greeted her with a joyful expression: "Sister, it's been so long without any news, I was worried something might have gone wrong. You've left the palace, it seems like there's indeed a telepathic connection between blood relatives."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

So much for political stance, it turns out the Huangfu family is also related by marriage.

That so-called death of the Crown Prince... now seems quite intriguing.

From outside came the continuous sounds of salutations: "Greetings to Your Highness."

"May Your Highness live in peace."

"Sister, how come you have the leisure to leave the palace today?"

"Why do you care when I leave the palace? What's with this crappy beard you're growing? Shave it off, it's hideous."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

Why does this voice sound so familiar?

But he heard Huangfu Shaozong say with a forced smile: "This beard is manly."

"Manliness is shown by this thing? Why don't you carve a scar on your face?"

"Coincidentally, there is indeed a man with a scar on his face and a stubbly beard staying as a guest in my home."

"Oh?" The woman's voice carried a teasing tone: "Let me see, what kind of riffraff friends have you been making?"

"Hmph, not this time!"

As the voice faded, a beautiful woman in palace attire leisurely entered the hall.

Zhao Changhe's mouth hung open, damn...

Miss Winged Fire Serpent, no wonder you're always in a hurry to return to the capital. If you disappeared any longer, the imperial city would explode, right? No wonder you only dare to call General Huangfu by his title, Lord Jingyuan, he's your real father.

Wait, no, why are you the Imperial Concubine?

If the technique of observing women from the Maitreya Sect's Blissful Dharma is correct, aren't you supposed to be a virgin?

The Imperial Concubine looked at Zhao Changhe with a smile that was not quite a smile, and after a long while, she said: "Who is this person, sitting so high and mighty, so rude, and you say he's not a bad influence? Someone, throw him out!"

Before Zhao Changhe could react and decide how to respond, a woman's voice came from outside again: "Since the Imperial Concubine doesn't welcome you, why don't you come with me to the Demon Suppression Division? Why linger here?"

Following the voice, Tang Wanzhuang floated in.

The Imperial Concubine yawned lazily: "Who said I don't welcome him? I've changed my mind. Shaozong, take good care of this... what was it, young hero? We wouldn't want others to say the Huangfu family lacks manners."

Zhao Changhe's jaw dropped.

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